Anchoring and attachment assembly for modular constructions

ABSTRACT

An anchoring and attachment assembly is for modular constructions. The assembly allows anchoring factory-built modules to the foundation of a building, as well as attaching the modules forming the building, thereby acquiring high strength and robustness of the modular construction. The assembly includes a support, and may also include an interconnection. Both the support and the interconnection include projections outwardly projected in a perpendicular plane with respect to the respective metal plates. The projections define a closed and hollow enclosure, and are dimensionally adapted for insertion into a modular post.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS

Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention belongs to the construction sector, and more specifically to the modular construction of factory-built buildings.

The object of the present invention is an assembly of anchoring and attachment elements for anchoring and attachment of factory-built modules to the foundation of the buildings and for anchoring and attachment between the modules, that is, both the contiguous modules and those modules located above and below each module, which prevents the allowances existing in current fastening systems and constitutes a more reliable, stronger and safer alternative.

Description of the Related Art

Prefabricated modular buildings have become very widespread in the building sector today, where based on standard sections, it is possible to make buildings of any type at locations that are far away from their destination, generally in a factory or shop, to be subsequently taken to their final location, where they are finally mounted and assembled.

Standard “corner fittings”, which are perhaps best known by the name isocorner, arranged in the corners of the prefabricated modules to facilitate module hoisting, loading and unloading tasks generally using large cranes or mechanical arms, are also known.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, current fastening systems have been particularly designed with a small allowance (H) between the anchoring element (A) and the corner fitting (C) in question, this allowance bringing about certain relative movement of the upper module during the fastening and fitting thereof on a lower module. Even though fastenings of this type between modules with corner fittings do cover the need for hoisting and tying up the modules for shipping by sea, they are nevertheless limited and unfit for use in other applications, such as for building and construction, where they would not be safe at all.

Therefore, the technical issue that is raised herein is preventing the allowances (H) existing in fastening systems, as such allowances cannot be allowed in the anchoring of housing modules or prefabricated modules for buildings, mainly due to the fact that the attachments between two prefabricated modules must be rigid, sound and strong to prevent any relative movement between modules, in order to comply with strict building construction regulations.

On the other hand, US patent application US2011180558 A1 describing a part for transport applications that successfully prevents the aforementioned allowance is known. However, it has been found that this anchoring part continues to have several issues and drawbacks, such as:

-   -   Due to the particular geometry of the anchoring part, it has         come up against considerable difficulties for certification and         homologation, specifically in reference to the laws in force for         the construction of buildings.     -   The preceding point furthermore has the direct consequence of a         high cost for manufacturing and obtaining each anchoring part,         furthermore taking into account the different embodiments and         sizing thereof depending on each application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical issue considered above is solved by means of the present invention by providing an anchoring and attachment assembly for modular constructions, particularly for the coupling thereof to posts of factory-built modules placed one on top of the other, and in addition to constituting a reliable and safe alternative, a greater strength and robustness of the modular building in question is obtained.

More particularly, the anchoring and attachment assembly of the invention comprises a support, in turn comprising a first metal plate and at least one hollow metal projection, where on one hand said support can be coupled to an upper and/or lower end of a modular post, and on the other hand it can be coupled to the roof of a modular construction. Furthermore, the anchoring and attachment assembly also preferably comprises an interconnection, which in turn comprises a second metal plate located in the intermediate position between at least one pair of projections located on one and the same vertical plane and in a symmetrical position with respect to said second metal plate.

The projections of the support and/or the interconnection are thereby outwardly projected in a plane perpendicular to that of the metal plates, and they define a closed and hollow enclosure dimensionally adapted for the insertion thereof into a modular post. Accordingly, the dimensions of the supporting projections and interconnection are smaller than the standard dimensions of modular posts for optimal coupling between same.

The projections of the support and/or of the interconnection preferably have through holes located in at least two of the facing side walls thereof, and in which through holes transverse screws are insertable. The projections and the modular posts are thereby fixed to one another in a quick and secure manner.

The possibility that the metal plate of the support can also have through holes in which longitudinal screws are insertable for fixing and anchoring the support to the floor of the modular construction in question has also been contemplated.

Furthermore, for the purpose of maximizing the strength, robustness and stability of the anchoring and attachment assembly herein described, it has been provided that the projections of the support and/or of the interconnection are preferably attached to the metal plates by means of welding, particularly through welding along the inner faces of the projections. This allows preventing any possible contact between the ends of the modular posts and the surfaces resulting from welding which generally protrude slightly outwardly and which could cause unwanted inclinations and allowances.

On the other hand, it has been provided that the anchoring and attachment assembly herein described may incorporate an auxiliary part particularly adapted for the coupling thereof to the support, where said auxiliary part is in the form of a corner fitting or isocorner for shipping by sea, or it has a plurality of wheels in the lower portion thereof such that the movement and/or shipment of the modular posts in the shop or factory in question is facilitated. The inclusion of an additional part that allows filling or covering the gap existing between two modular posts has also been provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and for the purpose of helping to better understand the features of the invention according to a preferred practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description in which the following has been depicted with an illustrative and non-limiting character:

FIG. 1 shows a sectioned side view of the current fastening system for factory-built modules according to the current state of the art.

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the anchoring and attachment assembly of the invention according to a first preferred embodiment for a single post.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the anchoring and attachment assembly of FIG. 2 once mounted and assembled.

FIG. 4 shows a pair of perspective views of the support and the interconnection, respectively, in this case for anchoring a double post, according to a second preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Several preferred embodiments that refer to the aforementioned drawings are described below, without this limiting or reducing the scope of protection of the present invention.

According to a first preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 focusing on a modular structure of single posts (P), the anchoring and attachment assembly comprises:

-   -   a support (10) in turn comprising a first metal plate (11) and         at least one hollow metal projection (12), where on one hand         said support (10) can be coupled to an upper and/or lower end of         a modular post (P), and on the other hand it can be coupled to         the floor of a modular construction;     -   an interconnection (20), comprising a second metal plate (21)         located in the intermediate position between at least one pair         of projections (22) located on one and the same vertical plane         and in a symmetrical position with respect to said second metal         plate (21); and     -   screws (30, 40) for fixing the support (10) and the         interconnection (20) with the modular posts (P), as well as with         the floor and/or roof of the modular construction in question.

However, according to a second preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4, it has been provided that the support (10) is configured for a double modular post (P), having two projections (12) to that end. Similarly, for this second embodiment focusing on double posts, it has been contemplated that the interconnection (20) may have two pairs of projections (22) attached to one and the same second metal plate (21). Therefore, although FIGS. 2-4 depict only those cases for single and double posts (P), it should be indicated that the anchoring and attachment assembly of the invention can likewise be adapted to factory-built modules with three, four or more posts, without this changing the spirit or essence of the invention.

In FIGS. 2 and 4, it can be seen that the projections (12, 22) of both the support (10) and the interconnection (20) are outwardly projected in a plane perpendicular to that of the metal plates (11, 21) and define a closed and hollow enclosure dimensionally adapted for the insertion thereof into a modular post (P). It can clearly be deduced from FIG. 3 that the dimensions of the projections (12, 22) are respectively smaller than the perimetral dimensions of the posts (P) for the purpose of allowing the coupling between both elements.

Furthermore, it can be seen in said FIGS. 2 and 4 that the projections (12, 22) of both the support (10) and the interconnection (20) have through holes (13 a, 23) located in two of their facing side walls, in which transverse screws (30) are insertable. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 2, these transverse screws (30) comprise a bolt (31) with a welded washer constituting the head of the bolt (31), an auxiliary washer (32) and a pin (33), such that said bolt (31) has a through hole in the proximity of its distal end, in which the pin (33) is insertable. At this point it should be indicated and emphasized that the particular configuration of the washer of the head of the bolt (31) and of the auxiliary washer (32), which have a non-circular, elongated and flattened geometry in the form of an oval flange. This feature is neither trivial nor random, but rather has two well-identified objectives:

a) to constitute grips facilitating the mounting work for operators; and

b) to achieve a solution that does not run into or impact the metal plates (11, 21), because in that case the bolts (31) could not be introduced in their entirety into the corresponding through holes (13 a, 23).

On the other hand, it can also be seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 that the metal plate (11) of the support (10) has through holes (13 b) in which longitudinal screws (40) are insertable for the fixing and anchoring thereof to the floor of a modular construction, and which in this embodiment comprise corrugated anchor bolts (41) adapted for concrete, nuts and washers, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

In relation to the preceding, FIGS. 2 and 3 show that the metal plate (11) of the support (10) has length and/or width dimensions exceeding those of the metal plate (21) of the interconnection (20). This is primarily for two reasons:

c) The first of such reasons is to create a region for implementing those through holes (13 b) of the metal plates (21) mentioned above;

d) The second of such reasons is to constitute a sufficient support and contact surface on the floor of the modular construction in question.

At this point it should be pointed out that even though the support (10) and the interconnection (20) in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 to 4 have quadrangular shapes or “square bar” shapes, it has nevertheless been provided that said elements can have circular shapes in both the metal plates (11, 21) and in their projections (12, 22), this case being applicable to cylindrical posts having an obviously circular section.

With respect to the attachment between the projections (12, 22) and the metal plates (11, 21), said attachment is preferably by welding, and more specifically welding along the inner faces of the projections (12,22). This particularity allows assuring the stiffness and strength of the entire assembly, while at the same time avoiding problems during the process of mounting and coupling with the modular posts (P). In fact, any type of inclination, mismatching or allowance as a result of the contact or interference between posts (P) and the ribs or surfaces resulting from the welding is thereby achieved. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An anchoring and attachment assembly for coupling to factory-built modular posts for a modular construction, wherein said anchoring and attachment assembly comprises a support, in turn comprising a first metal plate and at least one hollow metal projection, wherein one end of said support is configured to couple to an upper and/or lower end of a modular post, and the other end of said support is configured to couple to a floor of the modular construction, and wherein the projection is outwardly projected in a plane perpendicular to a plane of the first metal plate and defines a closed and hollow enclosure, such that said projection is dimensionally adapted for insertion thereof into the modular post.
 2. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an interconnection, in turn comprising a second metal plate located in an intermediate position between at least one pair of projections located on one and the same vertical plane and in a symmetrical position with respect to said second metal plate.
 3. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the pair of projections of the interconnection are outwardly projected in a plane perpendicular to a plain of the second metal plate and define a closed and hollow enclosure, said projections being dimensionally adapted for insertion thereof into respective modular posts.
 4. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow metal projection of the support and/or the pair of projections of the interconnection have through holes located in at least two of facing side walls thereof, and in which transverse screws are insertable.
 5. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the transverse screws comprise a bolt with a welded washer constituting a head of the bolt, an auxiliary washer and a pin, such that said bolt has a through hole in a proximity of its distal end and in which the pin is insertable.
 6. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that the washer of the head of the bolt as well as the auxiliary washer have a non-circular, elongated and flattened geometry in form of an oval flange.
 7. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the first metal plate of the support has through holes in which longitudinal screws are insertable for fixing and anchoring thereof to the floor and/or roof of the modular construction.
 8. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 7, characterized in that the longitudinal screws comprise smooth anchor bolt adapted for concrete, nuts and washers.
 9. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the hollow metal projection of the support is attached to the first metal plate by welding along inner faces of said hollow metal projection, and/or the pair of projections of the interconnection are attached to the second metal plates by welding along inner faces of said pair of projections.
 10. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the first metal plate of the support has length and/or width dimensions exceeding those of the second metal plate of the interconnection.
 11. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the support and/or the interconnection have quadrangular shapes in both the first and second metal plates thereof and the hollow metal projection and the pair of projections thereof.
 12. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the support and/or the interconnection has circular shapes in both the first and second metal plates thereof and the hollow metal projection and the pair of projections thereof.
 13. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the support is configured for a double modular post, having two of said hollow metal projections to that end.
 14. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that the interconnection is configured for a double modular post, having two of said pairs of projections to that end attached to one and the same second metal plate.
 15. The anchoring and attachment assembly according to claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary part adapted for the coupling thereof to the support, wherein said auxiliary part has a corner fitting or an isocorner shape, or said auxiliary part has a plurality of wheels in the lower portion thereof. 